Hannibal: "Mizumono"Review

Hannibal ended its fantastic second season with a thrilling, exciting and audacious series of events. There were an astounding number of “What?!” moments that occurred in "Mizumono", most of which would have been enough on their own, and stacked up like this, were unbelievably intense.

Bryan Fuller has a plan for this show that spans several years, but he gave us a season finale that had the weight of a series finale. Fuller’s passion for horror runs deep, and I love how the last act of this episode played out like the ending of a slasher film, as one character after another ventured into Hannibal’s home, where ghastly acts awaited them.

And these weren’t guest stars or recurring players. These were the show’s main characters. We knew Jack was going to fight Hannibal and get stabbed in the neck all season. That knowledge didn’t lessen the tension, it added to it, with this episode expertly adding to the build up via the sound of ticking throughout, signaling that time was almost up.

But then, to not only see that happen to Jack again, but then for Alana and Will to also be possibly fatally injured? Wow. This season ended with Hannibal absolutely decimating all of the heroes on this show in a manner no one could have predicted. Will, Jack and Alana were all left bleeding out and broken and it’s a testament to the skill with which this show is made that this didn’t all feel like wallowing in misery, but rather like it was part of the macabre fun of this oh-so twisted story. Not to say that I wasn’t completely wrapped up in the fates of these characters – I’m concerned for all of them, even though I feel like Will at least has to be safe… right?! Oh, and to also have Abigail turn out to be alive, as some of us suspected, only for Hannibal than to take her from Will again, right in front of him?! So cruel, Hannibal, so cruel…

Exit Theatre Mode

There are many questions, to be sure. In the show’s timeline, Abigail wasn’t gone nearly as long as Miriam and even with this show’s bigger than life concepts, it seems unlikely Hannibal could have brainwashed Abigail to the point that she would push Alana out that window… And Abigail did in fact seem troubled by what she was doing. So what had Hannibal told her/threatened her with, that made her become his accomplice?

And then of course is Bedelia!! Seeing her sitting next to Hannibal on that plane was a jaw-dropping moment. Early in the season, Hannibal went to her home to kill her and she certainly seemed to truly have turned her back on him. So what changed? Just how much has he sunk his hooks into her beyond what we know? Or is she the true puppet master?! There’s a lot to ponder, but the show has earned our good will at this point to the point that I have confidence in where we’re going with all of this – and am hugely excited by the great unknown ahead, as there is no doubt Hannibal will be a very, very different show next season. Who will still be around? Where will it take place? None of the familiar trappings of Hannibal working with the FBI or seeing his patients (at least not in his old stomping grounds) can still exist.

I’ve spent a lot of time on the final act of the episode, but that’s doing it a disservice, since the entire thing was excellent. As I mentioned earlier, the build-up to the inevitable Jack vs. Hannibal confrontation hung over the air, even as we saw how it could have gone differently. Hannibal figuring out Freddie was alive by smelling her on Will was a gasp-worthy moment – but then Hannibal asked Will if perhaps they should just take off, forgetting the plan with Jack. It’s amazing how even with how horrible and scary Hannibal is, we can see this more sympathetic, human side to him, as this monster truly wanted Will to be his companion and offered him one last chance to do so.

Meanwhile, Jack being told that not only was he not getting the backup he’d intended to have when he went to confront Hannibal, but that his entire plan was scrapped and deemed entrapment was a bit out of left field – Cynthia Nixon’s Kade had kind of floated in and out of the season before returning to drop this on Jack and declare her intent of pressing charges on both Jack and Will – but it did its job of letting us know why Jack would go to Hannibal on his own, even as both he and Will were quite aware that this entire situation could end with their deaths. On top of that, it perfectly meshes with the mind games and conflict of this show that Will calling to warn Hannibal both works as way to help protect Jack yet also could still be seen as also perhaps tied to a strange desire within Will to maybe truly want Hannibal to escape.

It was also so satisfying to have everyone -- even if it was briefly, before the blood began to pour -- to be able to speak truthfully to one another. From Jack’s “This is the clearest moment of our friendship” to Hannibal, to Hannibal telling Alana “In your defense, I worked very hard to blind you,” there was no more hiding behind a mask for Hannibal or those around him.

David Slade was back to direct the finale, and he did a beautiful job. If Alana is dead – and she seems the most likely to be, if Will and Jack are to retain any of their importance in the events from the Hannibal Lecter novels (though who knows!!) – it would certainly fit in with the imagery surrounding her throughout the hour. Her dream of water enveloping her, the blood in her tear… It was all so evocative, stirring and exquisite-looking.

The Verdict

The Hannibal: Season 2 finale didn’t hold back in the slightest, wrapping up the season in a delightfully ghastly way that left all of our main characters – except for Hannibal himself, of course – in the worst circumstances possible, seemingly moments away from death. Completely blowing up the show’s dynamic, “Mizumono” left us with Hannibal getting away, joined by a shocking partner, as we ponder just how different this amazing series will be next year…